Chapter 6 – Apologies, Conversations and Simons.

Magnus opened his window and stretched in the mid-autumn sun. He his scanning the opposite windows, looking for his best friend even though he had been with him last night. It had been Izzy's party and Magnus had enjoyed it. He and Jace had teased each other, he had had fun talking fashion with Izzy and art with Clary, it was amusing for them all when he kept pretending to forget Simon's name but called him any name begging with an 's' and Alec, he just loved being close to Alec.

His little reverie was cut short as someone knocked on the door. He lingered by the window a moment and then charged down the stairs, yanking to door open with force and startling the blonde girl on the other side.

Magnus felt his eyebrows raise as he took in her make-up free appearance, she looked younger without her cosmetic mask to hide behind. Her eyes seemed bigger and greener as they looked at him, her blonde hair was left in its natural curls, her rosebud lips curled into a small shy smile, "Hey Magnus."

"Hi Camille." Magnus answered, he was still unsure why she was here.

"Can I come in?" She quirked a blonde eyebrow.

"Yeah, sure." Magnus moved aside and she entered his house, he shut the door and they migrated to the kitchen, they grabbed some drinks and snacks and then went up to Magnus' room. Magnus sat in his desk chair and Camille sat on his bed. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I just…. I thought…." She trailed off and wrinkled her nose as she thought, "We haven't spent any quality time together in far too long so I wondered if… now is good? I wanted to talk to you."

Magnus looked up at her and properly saw her. She was pretty with make-up on but without it she was beautiful, she wasn't dressed up in her usual tarty clothes but a loose pair of jeans and a t-shirt that complimented her curves in ways her normal clothes didn't, but then he saw her face. She was biting her lip, a bad habit she had done since she was young, her eyes were filled with worry and was that desperation?

He realised she was letting him see the real her, without the airs and performance she put on in public – the contrast to how she actually was to how she was in public was startling. He remembered why he liked her, she was funny, honest and down to earth, but she kept that part so caged up no one else saw it. I haven't seen her so natural in so long, he thought with a pang of sadness.

"Sure, I had nothing planned anyway." Magnus smiled, her eyes filled with relief.

"Thank the Gods." She smiled, "I thought you'd say no and then I'd have to go on worrying about…" she stopped suddenly, realising what she'd said.

"About?" Magnus asked, raising an eyebrow.

She gulped, and answered quietly. "About us."

"About us?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

She looked at him, her eyebrows raised. "Really?"

"Really." He confirmed with a nod.

"Well, because we haven't spent time together in way too long, you seemed to be avoiding me at school, you've rejected every attempt I've made to do something or to talk, I was worried you didn't like me anymore, that you liked someone else. I thought it was something I had done and I want to know what before you broke up with me." She confessed.

"Cam…" Magnus tried to comfort her, he got up from the desk chair and sat on the bed next to her.

"I just…. I'm sorry, okay?" she said, "I know I caused you to distance yourself from me because I'm such a superficial bitch, I'm the kind of girl we used to make fun of, the kind that we used to swear we'd never be friends with."

"Camille, you're not that bad."

"Yes I am, the other day I walked down the hall and I saw a girl look at the floor whilst I passed her, just so I wouldn't pick on her it was horrible so, don't lie to me Magnus. Admit it, go on, I won't be offended." Camille told him, her face was open and honest.

"Sure?" Magnus asked, she nodded. "Then yes, you're the classic mean plastic bitch. People are scared of you and they don't like you."

"I know that." She ducked her head, feeling ashamed. "But you agree, right? I'm why we're not working?"

"No. It's not just you. I'm in this too, I made you worry about our relationship which you shouldn't do, I rejected your every offer to spend time together and I've been distancing myself from you so I'm sorry too." Magnus said, he was also sorry for more, sorry he'd been horrible about her behind her back and sorry he hadn't stuck up for her when people said horrible things about her, amongst other things.

"So, we're both at fault?"

"We are."

"Well, I know what I'm going to do about it." She smiled, "I'm going to be me. I'm not going to wear the slutty clothes, I'm not going to be catty and bitchy, I'm going to study hard and be nice."

"And I'm going to push other unimportant things out so we have time together, I'll surprise you with romantic gestures like spontaneous picnics but not that because now you'll expect it." Magnus smiled, Camille laughed.

"Awesome." She grinned. "I missed talking to you like this."

"Me too. Do you want to watch a movie?" Magnus asked, opening the lid of his laptop.

"Hell yeah!" Camille smiled.

They got comfortable, the laptop half on Camille's lap and half on Magnus' and watched the film, oblivious to the fact in the room opposite a boy with blue eyes sat, his heart breaking as he heard the sounds of their laughter.

Magnus watched Alec and Clary over the next few days, he watched how they acted. Of course he only had one class with either of them but he was certain they had a thing going in between lessons and at lunch. One day they were both early to their table and were talking and laughing until the others showed up. Magnus was convinced Alec liked her.

Meanwhile, Camille had stayed true to her word. She wore her average jeans and t-shirts, she studied hard and was much nicer to everyone, Lily was shocked at first but then, when she got over that, she was proud and supportive of her friend. But Camille's popularity didn't suffer, the boys liked how she looked and how she seemed happier and the girls were more comfortable and they made more of an effort to talk to her. However there were people who still didn't like her, Cat, Ragnor and Alec were the main ones.

However Alec became more distant with Magnus. If Magnus talked to him in the corridor he would excuse himself and leave, or later on if Magnus chatted with him through the windows he'd claim he had homework or family commitments. Even in English he ignore every attempt Magnus made to talk to him. Magnus didn't know how to stop him slipping away.

The days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, football games passed with Alec playing, not as well as the game, Camille cheering and Magnus watching, Halloween – Magnus spent it watching films with Cat and Ragnor, Thanksgiving, Tiara invited her boyfriend, Gerald, and his twelve year old daughter Marcy over and they had dinner together, Christmas passed with just Magnus and Tiara, New Year with he spent with Marcy and Camille, they did each other's hair and makeup, Valentines, he and Camille went on a date, his birthday, Easter, Exams, his mother's engagement to Gerald, all passed by without a word from Alec.

But Magnus still talked to Isabelle, she told him that their parents came home but argued all the time however it was good to see her little brother, she and Simon had started dating and they were happy. She never mention Alec and probably assumed they were still talking – knowing Alec he was acting as if they were just so neither of his siblings would worry, admittedly Magnus had been doing the same for his mum and friends. Then Izzy talked about prom, she was jealous he got to go when she had to wait another year, apparently Jace and some girl were going to prom, was he? He was. Were he and Camille happy? He had said yes but when he thought about it he wasn't sure, he felt like he was missing something, someone.

"Magnus?" Cat asked, snapping him back to reality, they were sat on his bed waiting for Brad – Cat's boyfriend, Camille and Ragnor to pick them up to take them to prom. "What's wrong?"

"I… I don't know." He answered.

"Liar." She folded her arms and purser her lips. She looked glamourous like a movie star, the full length dress she wore was a deep blue with sleeves that reached her elbows, the neck line spread from shoulder to shoulder in a graceful curve, it had a slight fishtail at the bottom that made her look curvier and it hugged her slim but tall figure nicely. Her white-blonde hair was styled, by Magnus, on top of her head in an intricate design, he had also done her make, simple but effective.

"Cat…"

"You're lying and we both know it." She cut him off, her blue eyes full of support. "Now, you can lie and not let me help or you can tell the truth and we can do something about it."

"Fine." Magnus rolled his eyes, but deep down he was grateful for her straightforwardness and her help. "I feel like I'm missing something." As he said this his eyes strayed to the windows opposite his, a bad habit he hadn't been able to break, he sighed when he saw that the familiar room was, like usual, absent of its inhabitant.

Cat followed his gaze and raised her eyebrows, suspecting what was wrong. "Could the something missing actually be someone?"

"Maybe…" Magnus sighed, not really listening.

"How's Alec been lately?" She asked, the seemingly random subject brought him back to reality.

"Alec?" He bit his bottom lip, "urm, yeah… he's fine."

"Really? He must be taking the divorce well then." She said.

"Divorce?"

"I heard there was an accident and his parents were splitting up because if it. Apparently there were screaming matches and everything, I'm surprised he never mentioned it."

"Was anyone hurt in the accident? Is he coping okay?" Magnus asked, he had so many question about Alec. His green eyes were full of concern, he saw Cat's smug look and knew what she had done, she had tricked him. Because if Magnus was talking to Alec, he would know all this stuff already.

"How long?" She asked.

"What?"

"How long have you not been talking?"

"Well, the last time was about…" he trailed off and counted on his fingers, "October."

Cat's jaw dropped, "Oct-freaking-tober!"

"Yeah, about eight or nine months ago."

"Magnus! Why didn't you tell someone?" She asked, "Wait, forget that, how did it happen? Why did it?"

"I don't know why, but one day he just stopped. He made excuses to leave when I tried to talk to him at school, he'd ignore me in English, he'd say he was too busy at night. Eventually, it got so painful being rejected time after time, I gave up trying and I let him slip away. "

Cat nodded, they thought for a second. "When exactly in October?"

"I don't know, after Camille came over and we talked, when she started changing." Magnus recalled it.

"He didn't like Camille did he?"

"No. He pretty much hated her."

"Why?"

"Because he thought she made me miserable."

"She did."

Magnus ignore her comment and carried on, "He suggested I break up with her so I could be happy."

"Why?"

"So I could be free of her."

"But why?"

"Because he's my friend."

"Or is it more?"

"What do you mean Cat?"

"I'm pretty sure I heard that he said he was gay to his parents and they argued over that too."

"So you think he liked me?" Magnus asked, his heart felt fluttery about that. "But why did he stop talking to me?"

"Maybe like you, it hurt him too much to be rejected?"

"But, I didn't reject him."

"Didn't you?" She frowned, "What if he did like you, you'd moan about your girlfriend to him which gave him hope you might break up, you made a freaking dress just for his sister's half birthday, not her actual birthday, you drew him – don't deny it, I saw the picture you did and it's by far the best thing in your art book – you spent time together and maybe he began to hope there was a chance you felt the same as he did.

"But then maybe he overheard your conversation with Camille, maybe he couldn't see why you were giving her another chance and it hurt to see you two happy and together because that meant he had no chance of you liking him, maybe he felt like you had rejected him after building his hopes up. Maybe it hurt too much to pretend he only liked you as a friend, maybe it was too painful to be around you, too excruciating to even talk to you, let alone be your friend."

"But there was a girl." Magnus said, "I asked him if he liked anyone and he said that the person he liked had beautiful green eyes with gold flecks, the person made him happy and made him laugh, tht they used to be close but drifted but were getting close again…" now he thought about it, the eyes were the same as his and they had been close but drifted and they had been closer again.

"Did he say it was a girl?" Cat asked, emphasising the 'he' suspecting the same thing as Magnus.

"Only after I assumed and said, 'she sounds amazing' or something like that." Magnus sighed.

"What if he is gay and closeted, after hearing you assume it was a girl he probably didn't want to tell you it was a guy because he didn't want you to reject him." Cat pointed out.

"So you're suggesting, I assumed he was straight when he actually wasn't… and the girl, boy, person, it, whatever, is actually… me?" Magnus asked, he felt his face heat slightly.

"It's just an idea."

"Right, there's no way he'd like me." Magnus nodded, he pressed his lips together, "He's kind and funny, he's beautiful so there's no way he'd like someone as sarcastic and shallow as me."

Cat smiled, she knew he like-liked Alec, even if he didn't know it himself. "You'll only find out if you go and talk to him."

Magnus glanced at the clock on his desk, Brad, Ragnor and Camille would be there in ten minutes. That's when Cat's phone rang, she picked up.

"Hey, Ragnor…. Really? That sucks… yeah of course…" she paused listening, "okay...see you there then."

"What's up?" Magnus asked.

"Apparently there's a car accident so they can't get heremor something but Camille and Brad could get to him. Ragnor asked if we could get to prom by ourselves." She sighed.

"We can get there." Magnus nodded.

"Yeah." Cat smiled but it was small and sad. "Anyway, go talk to him! I'll wait here."

"Sure?"

"Positive." She smiled.

Magnus nodded and hurried out of his room, down the stairs and over to the Lightwood house. His heart was beating fast with nerves, could Alec actually like him? He knocked on the door and waited. There was no answer, he knocked and kept knocking quickly and loudly.

"The Angel!" He heard a female shout from the other side, "Give me a moment!"

Magnus stopped knocking but filled with the sleeve of his tuxedo, he was nervous to say the least. He bit his bottom lip. The door opened and a grumpy looking Isabelle Lightwood stood, hands on hips, her thick black hair was bundled on top of her head in a messy bun, her pyjamas were pink and looked very comfy.

"Oh, Magnus, hey." She sounded slightly annoyed.

"Is Alec home?" Magnus asked, not bothering with a greeting.

"No… he went to get pizza for me, him and Max." She frowned slightly.

"Is he going to prom?"

"He said there was no point him going since he had no date and he was feeling down, so no. I thought you would know that."

"We haven't talked for about…. Eight months or so, long story short, no I wouldn't know that but thank you. Can you tell him I need to talk to him? Actually, I'll just stop by later after the dance."

"Okay, I'll tell him both… but I want to know why you haven't talked."

"I promise I'll tell you later, but right now I have to go." He bit his lip, "Prom awaits."

"I'll see if I can convince him to go." Izzy said, "But, even if I can't you had still better enjoy it."

"I'll try." He lied. However, Izzy seemed satisfied, she nodded and closed the door. He hurried back to his house and he and Cat got in Cat's car and drove to 'the best night of their lives', neither really wanting to go.

Alec slammed the door of his car shut, he held the pizzas tightly and hurried inside his house, his sister came out of the living room as he barged past. He couldn't stop, he had to go. His heart was beating fast and his breathing was heavy.

"I have to go… tell Magnus…" He panted, out of breath from his rush "About Camille… what she's done…" He hurried into the kitchen and left the pizza on the side. He turned to leave and got halfway down the hallway before Izzy grabbed his jumper sleeve and pulled him to face her.

"Alec, what's wrong?" Izzy pushed.

"I have to go to prom to tell Magnus about Camille." He repeated, less out of breath this time,"It was an act, all an act. He has to know."

Izzy shook her head, knowing she would get much more sense out of him, he was focused on telling Magnus something. "Why? Why do you have to tell him? He was here a minute asking to speak to you but I said you were gone, he asked if you were going to prom and then said you hadn't talked to each other for eight months!" He blinked at her and she felt her face contort into anger, "Eight months, Alec! He's your best friend! And, you haven't talked to him for eight freaking months! But you know what the worst part is?" He blinked at her again, "That you didn't tell me! I could have helped you! I could have helped you and him get together!"

"Iz, I know but it… I couldn't. It hurt too much to think and him and Camille let alone talk about it! It was too damn painful that I gave up and then that hurt so much but it was too late, too much time had gone past but I still felt the same and so did he. To him we're never going to be more then best friends."

"So why are you going to him now? After eight months of ignoring him, why now?"

"It's complicated but I have to." Alec tried to get her to understand, "Like how when you liked Simon for months, even when he had his feelings for Clary and you were miserable, right?" she nodded, "And how Clary is Jace's Simon because he liked her even when she couldn't stand him. And, remember how we had that theory that everyone has a Simon? How everyone has a person they like no matter what?"

"Yes."

"Well, Magnus is my Simon."

"Oh, Alec…"

"I have liked him for so long and I can't see myself not liking him. Yes, it hurts a ton but you know what?" he admitted, "He's worth it. Being his friend is worth all the pain and heartache because even the five minutes I can pretend we might have a chance are enough. I guess it's silly and it's pathetic but I don't care because it's him, sure he makes me cry but he makes me laugh a whole lot more, it took me eight months but I'm there now, I've realised it. And, right now, this thing I've found out will hurt him a lot and I need to be there for him. So will you please let me go to him?"

She looked at him for a moment, an eyebrow raised and her dark eyes unreadable, "Nu-uh, no way." She pulled his arm and dragged him down the hallway.

"Izzy!" Alec growled, "But he's my Simon!"

"Yeah I know and you will go get your Simon, but there is no way in hell, I'm letting you go to prom looking like that, you look like you could be on a poster about homeless people, for the Angel's sake! So it's down to me to save your unfashionable arse again." And despite his desperation to get to Magnus he laughed.

W/M:

I realised I shouldn't write when I'm sad, things like this chapter happen and I mirror my life in my writing… I'm sorry. I know lots of you want a Malec kiss but not yet.

I think next chapter will be the last one, maybe with an epilogue. Depending on if you want one.

I tried to make Camille nice in the first half because I know lots of you don't like her but I actually do, she's really fun to write about.

Thank you for reviewing it was lovely to see that much feedback! Also, thank you for reading and following and favouriting too.

I'm sorry, this is the rubbish version of this chapter because the Wi-Fi was playing up so when I saved the original version after spending hours on it, it didn't save and I lost it all. So this is the quick type up version before I lost all the ideas.

Anyway, did you like it? What do you think Camille has done? Blah, Blah.